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Avoid even moderate on-shore conditions at low tide, particularly againts tide. It will be fine at high slack tide. Call ahead if it's strong, but remember that acceptable for a fast off-shore power boat and for a slow sail boat are different. This inlet does break. I surfed in with a cataman once but I wouldn't advise that in a monohull. Most of the time, there are simply strong currents and no exceptional hazards.
Do not short-cut from the south. At all. Stay north to center in the chanel.
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This is a reasonable stop, but it is not a "duck in to escape weather" inlet.
I used it 4 times on my Cape May trip in late June, early July, without regard to the tide or current, with no problems. Make sure you have up-to-date charts. It was actually easier than entering the Cape May inlet on July 1st. The channel was well marked. The most confusing area is the area North of the inlet as you approach the bridge after you have entered the inlet.
You should stay close to the North stone jetty upon entering the inlet, then cross over to the South stone jetty soon after entering the inlet (beware of the submerged stone jetty extending East from the South stone jetty).
Prepared to be rocked by numerous sportfishing boat wakes transiting the inlet. Once inside, stay close to the eastern side of the channel as you approach the bridge.
In pre adulthood I stayed down there during the Summers and was in the inlet a lot with little power boats that had no business even being there (That's back when I was INVINCIBLE!), I've seen some sights around there with the strong currents, confused waves and sandbars. If it were me I'd probably wimp out on that one but admittedly I really don't have any experience sailing large boats in and out of ocean inlets.
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